Substance Abuse Issues

Substance abuse is a major problem in Kentucky and in the nation as a whole.

Expert teams from UK and Kentucky communities are collaborating to address substance abuse, providing information on the problems and issues, defining the local problems, and developing action plans using community assets and the resources of the university and other partners so that communities can implement action plans.

Led by Deborah Murray of the UK College of Agriculture's Health Education through Extension Leadership Program (HEEL), this project partners the UK colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health and Social Work with local county extension agents.  External partners include the University of Louisville, the Kentucky League of Cities, the Kentucky Departments of Education, Public Health, Justice, and Health and Family Services, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Kentucky National Guard, and the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office.

Actions and Outcomes to Date

This collaborative has provided activities in 26 eastern and western Kentucky counties, a one-day summit in Louisville followed by a one-day western Kentucky retreat in Greenville, and an eastern Kentucky training and work session at the Robinson Station at Quicksand. Working with additional partners including the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, KY-ASAP Board Members, Champions Against Drugs, Operation Unite, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services and Regional Prevention Offices, and the Kentucky Justice Cabinet, the initiative’s initial surveys suggest positive response. The project has also developed and printed Living in a Substance Abusing Home and How to Show Love to a Family Member Who Is Abusing Drugs for use by eastern and western Kentucky county teams. HEEL continues to monitor and provide assistance to county teams while providing evaluations to assess progress.